Investigation of titanium oxides as hydrogen traps in Ti-IF steels for enamelling

Ti-stabilised interstitial free (IF) steels designed for enamelling applica tions contain higher levels of C, N, S and Ti than conventional deep drawin g IF steels, e.g, for automotive applications. Consequently they contain a sufficient amount of hydrogen traps, which are essential to avoid the forma tion of fish scale defects during enamelling. A large amount of precipitate s is however known to have a detrimental effect on the mechanical propertie s. The possibility of adding Ti-oxides as an alternative type of 'precipita te' and thus keeping the S and C-content of the IF steel low, was investiga ted. The present paper reviews the results of the investigation of the micr ostructure, the mechanical and the enamelling properties of a Ti-deoxidised laboratory cast IF steel with low CI N and S-content, The composition, mor phology and size distribution of the inclusions and precipitates were evalu ated by scanning electron microscopy at all stages of the laboratory proces sing.